Dental visiting history between ages 13 and 30 years and oral health-related impact

The aim was to assess the role of visit history factors between the age of 13 and 30 years on oral health-related impact.

In 1988-89, n=7,673 South Australian school children aged 13 years were sampled with n=4,604 children (60.0%) and n=4,476 parents (58.3%) returning questionnaires. In 2005-06, n=632 baseline study participants responded (43.0% response of those traced and living in Adelaide). Oral health impact was measured at age 30 years using OHIP-14.

Multivariate regression showed that OHIP scores were significantly higher (P<0.05) for those with episodes of relief of pain visits once (β=1.487) or two or more times (β=2.883), and episodes of extraction once (β=1.301) or two or more times (β=3.172). Higher positive dental visit attitude scores were associated with lower OHIP scores (β=-1.265), as were being male (β=-0.637), having a job (β=-1.555) and being tertiary educated (β=-0.632).

History of adverse dental events between the age of 13 and 30 years such as episodes of relief of pain visits and episodes of extraction was associated with higher impact of oral health problems at age 30 suggesting a cumulative effect.